In my opinion they are way over-priced. I’ve been using the Badia brand that I buy at Publix for less than half the price. I’m not a gourmet or a Badia salesman. I’d like to have the opinion of people who cook a lot. Yes I know fresh parsley is better than dried.
Thanks for your responses!
Here’s something for you to think about regarding spices. I paid $3.50 for less than an ounce of McCormick brand coriander seed. At Spice Barn I can get a pound for $4.99. Do you get how much McCormick is ripping us off for their brand name?
http://www.spicebarn.com/
If you’re happy with the store brand, then that’s what you should buy. I myself prefer the McCormick spices because you always know what you’re going to get, and the quality is certainly higher than some store brands I’ve tried. Especially with dried herbs, the cheaper brands tend to have more stems and less leaves, or they are made from inferior leaves to begin with so the flavor is weak or bitter.
{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }
Nah, McCormick is overpriced. Buy whichever brand is on sale.Love the Publix brand myself!
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I like the McCormick spices and Mrs. Dash too. Glad to hear you like to cook.
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Yes, I just bought the garlic and spice and its the best iv’e ever tasted!
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If you’re happy with the store brand, then that’s what you should buy. I myself prefer the McCormick spices because you always know what you’re going to get, and the quality is certainly higher than some store brands I’ve tried. Especially with dried herbs, the cheaper brands tend to have more stems and less leaves, or they are made from inferior leaves to begin with so the flavor is weak or bitter.
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Around here we buy our spices at the Christmas Tree Shop for less than $1 and they are fine.
I have also been to "house parties" selling gourmet spices and heck if I can tell the difference.
No cook either though
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I trust nothing but McCormick’s (and Lawry’s) brands spices! They are well worth the money! They are expensive, but they taste better than knock-off brands. They have EXCELLENT recipes on their site too!
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I use a lot of spices including McCormicks. I think theirs has a "fresher" taste. I am really impressed with the new Grinders they have. Many spices lose freshness unless they are ground at time of use. One example is pepper. In my opinion, they are worth the price.
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Spices from the grocery store are ususally overpriced and poor quality. I use Penzy’s spices. You get a lot more for the money, the quality is excellent, they have stuff you never imagined, the spices are very versatile, and they are usually cheaper than the grocery store if you buy them in the bags. Their website is http://www.penzeys.com They have reasonable shipping and you can order online or over the phone. I have never been disappointed with their products.
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The higher priced brands such as McCormick’s are definetly better as they are much higher quality.
You can use much less therefore making them not anymore expensive.
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NO, they’re not worth the price. If you can, you should buy your spices fresh from a specialty spice store. They’re 10 times more fresh than the bottled stuff on the grocery store shelves (any of them–McCormick or otherwise) and you’ll be surprised at the flavor difference when you use curry powder that was made fresh earlier in the week vs. McCormick curry powder which was made a year ago and has been sitting in some warehouse somewhere.
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I use McCormicks, but I purchase the smallest containers of spices they have. Its good to replace the spices every 6 months or so.
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i only use mccormic black pepper its just stronger and i dont mind to pay more for pepper
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i do think they are over-priced and i cook alot….i find Durkee brand to be just as good and better priced…not to mention McCormick shut down their plant in my hometown and put several people out of work
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I think they’re overpriced.
I buy mine at the farmer’s market or a local health food store.
Oh yeah, by the way, if you go to specialty food stores you can find some spices for cheaper. For instance, I went to an Indian food store and got cumin for about 1/4 than at the grocery…
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Well, as I like to say, "you get what you pay for". If the spices are expensive, then most likely they will work well. As for McCormick spices, I use them all the time. They are great for baking and chicken.
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I normally buy herbs fresh and keep dried on hand and when it comes to spices I buy whats on sale or with a coupon. Some McCormick’s spices are average price, while others are too high. Tones is another brand that you can find in bulk at warehouse stores. Their cajun seasoning is the best. Even $ stores carry oregano, garlic, basil for you guessed it a dollar. If spices come whole ot might be worth the splurge to buy them. For example whole nutmeg- 1 whole nutmeg goes a long way.
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You want to trust the company that provides your spices and if that requires a bit more money…well. There actually is a standard for the amount of fecal matter and insects that can found in spices. Is that scary? I use Penzey Spices. Very fresh! And, remember, don’t buy more spice that you will be using soon.
1-800-741- 7787 for catalog or http://www.penzeys.com
The catalog is very informative and includes recipes.
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ha, i get most of mine at wal-mart. 2 for $1.oo.
i think that as long as they are fresh, then what does it matter.
however what you can get is limited.
like i can get onion powder and salt
or garlic powder and salt
parsley, and stuff like that.
but they don’t have things like thyme. and tumeric. and all those off beat spices that i use.
if you use any ‘red’ spices like chili powder and paprika, store them in the fridge.. they last forverer, and don’t lose their color or flavor.
so go cheap where you can. and higher end if you have to..
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5th season, is the 2 for $1.oo ones i was talking about.
Funny thing is that I don’t think McCormick is any more expensive than the stuff I buy from Morton & Bassett!
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